Handcarved Soapstone Bookends from India
International Education Week Fair Trade Sale Returns to Campus
Second annual International Education Week Fair Trade Sale supports the efforts of artisans around the world.
The Pacific University International Club, Pacific Progressive Union, Office of International Programs, and the Center for Civic Engagement will support the efforts of artisans around the world by selling their handmade gifts, home decor, jewelry and personal accessories. The event, which will be held from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm on November 11th, 12th, and 13th in the Washburne University Center on the Forest Grove campus, offers a unique opportunity for people to invest in their world by shopping fair trade. Shoppers will also learn more about skilled artisans in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. This is part of Pacific's celebration of International Education Week, an annual initiative of the U.S. Department of State that highlights the the importance of international student exchange and global awareness education.
This is the second year this type of activity has been part of International Education Week at Pacific, and it will showcase an exquisite collection of handcrafted items from Ten Thousand Villages. Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade retailer of artisan-crafted home decor, personal accessories and gift items from across the globe. Featuring products from more than 130 artisan groups in some 36 countries, the Fair Trade Sale becomes part of a network of more than 150 retail outlets throughout the United States selling Ten Thousand Villages products. For more than 60 years, Ten Thousand Villages has been establishing long-term buying relationships in places where skilled artisans lack opportunities for stable income. All artisans are fairly paid for their products.
International Club president Chi Phan says, “Last year's sale was a great success! By holding this sale every year, we give people in the Forest Grove community a chance to help create employment opportunities for people around the world.”
For information regarding the International Education Week fair trade sale, please contact Megan Serenco, International Club advisor at 503-352-1600. For more information about Ten Thousand Villages, please contact Kristen Jenkins, at 717.859.8150 or visit www.tenthousandvillages.com/home.php.
Posted by International Programs (intlprograms@pacificu.edu) on Nov 6, 2009 at 5:54 PM
